Chapter 98

“Sit.” The finance director, Fanny Bronson, is Jefferey’s number one right-hand employee, and they’re guarding against me heavily. I can’t access their original account book.

“Don’t worry,” Justin said, pouring out a cup of tea and then pushing it slowly in front of her. “Soon, you’ll be able to check their accounts openly.”

Why?

“Hudson Pharmaceuticals will soon fall into another round of financial crisis.”

Rachel was puzzled at his words, but the cell phone she placed on his desk suddenly vibrated at this time.

From the corner of his eyes, Justin saw Hans’ name and lowered his head to taste the tea. Suddenly, he kept away the tea he just had and the one he offered to Rachel, saying, “This tea is regular. By the Startled, Rachel secretly held her palms into fists. Justin was clearly aware that Tina didn’t like her, not to mention she almost got her killed. Yet, he wanted her to attend Tina’s engagement party with him.

Can / skip it?

“No,” he said curtly, his eyes fixed on her. “Don’t forget your title now.”

Pursing her lips, she was at a loss for words.

“Also…” He cast a cold look at the cell phone on the desk. “Since it’s a deal, you should show some progress, but you’ve shown me nothing until now. Do you think I can continue to believe that you have what it takes to help me acquire Hudson Pharmaceuticals?”

I’m thinking of a plan.

“I’m afraid there would’ve been progress already had you spent half of the time chatting with others on coming up with a plan.”

His words caught her by surprise, and she stared at him in shock.

“I’m giving you three days. I need to see evidence which shows a concrete financial loophole within Hudson Pharmaceuticals.” His words echoed in the room.

Three days? That’s impossible!

While they were in a stalemate, the door swung open.

“I went out to buy a watermelon. It’s really sweet, Jus,”

Rachel peered over at the person who just entered the room, and that person stopped mid-sentence.

Carrying a watermelon in her hands, Gloria was stunned for a moment when she saw Rachel, and she turned to Justin in reflex. “Uh… Am I interrupting your meeting? Should I go out for now so you guys can continue?”

“No need,” Justin said. “We’re done talking, anyway.”

“I’m going to cut the watermelon, then!” Gloria exclaimed and looked at Rachel happily. “Miss Rachel, why don’t you join us as well?”

Thanks, but no. Then, Rachel stood up and gestured to Justin. I’m leaving first.

Justin’s face was stony, and when he recalled that her phone vibrated for a split second earlier, it turned even more solemn.

Meanwhile, after Rachel left his office, she heard the lively voice of the girl behind her, and her footsteps gradually slowed down; even her knees and feet felt a little numb. If it wasn’t for the purpose of destroying the Hudsons, Justin would never have married a mute like herself.

She once thought that the care she received before was maybe because the scar on his face resonated with her, and that was why he felt a little pity for her.

But Gloria’s appearance shattered all her fantasies, and she could now clearly see that Justin would never have any feelings for herself.

After seeing how he doted on a person he loved, she was sure that this man was only aloof and emotionless to the person he didn’t love.

His warning was like a ticking bomb, and it made her very unsettled.

Rachel knew for a fact that if she didn’t show any real results as soon as possible, Justin might not have the patience to continue collaborating with her.

Hence, for the next few days, she went to Hudson Pharmaceuticals very diligently.

One afternoon when she just arrived, she was invited into Jefferey’s office by his assistant.

“What the hell! We’re friends when he can use me, but he kicks me aside when I’m not of any use! Get out, all of you!”

A document flew out of the office and landed next to Rachel’s foot, startling her. The documents and ornaments on the desk were all swept to the floor, and the secretary was crouching on the floor, clearing up the mess.

Rachel looked at the assistant in surprise. What happened?

Sighing, he knocked on the door twice and reported, “President Hudson, Miss Rachel is here.”

“Come in.”

The assistant gestured for Rachel to go in.

The moment she stepped into the room, she saw Jefferey clutching onto the desk with an ashen face, and the entire room was trashed.

“You’re finally here, Rachel.” Jefferey stepped out from behind the desk. Then, he grabbed her by her shoulders as though she was his last hope. “You have to help me this time. You have to get Hudson Pharmaceuticals out of this crisis.”

Rachel was puzzled. What happened?

“Pacific Inc. suddenly withdrew their funds, and our factories abroad have stopped operations. Without funding, we now have a huge problem, and if we don’t fill up this hole quickly, the board of directors will hold someone accountable. I won’t be able to keep my position then!”

Isn’t Pacific Inc. a long-term partner of Hudson Pharmaceuticals?

At the mention of this, Jefferey turned sullen. “They’re a bunch of ingrates. I did my best to help them win the tender, but they placed all the blame on me when they didn’t win as expected. Then, they withdrew their funding just like that…”

Tender? Rachel repeated in her mind, and she suddenly figured it out.

By now, Rachel had already composed herself. Calm down. First, I have to see how much you’re lacking in funding.

“You’re willing to help?”

Of course, but the finance department doesn’t allow me to see the accounts this whole time.

“You want to check the accounts?” Jefferey asked, and a wary look flashed across his face immediately.

Putting on an awkward look, Rachel stepped away from him. I know you’re worried about me checking the accounts. I’ll try my best to convince Justin, but I’m such a klutz, and I’m afraid it won’t be easy to convince him. I can only hope for the best regarding how much he’s willing to help.

Silence loomed over the office for a long while as he pondered over it before making a call. “Let Fanny from the finance department know that Rachel is free to check the accounts as she likes in the future.

Just say that I gave her the green light.” After hanging up the call, he looked at her. “Rachel, will this do?”

In response, she nodded, and her eyes were calm and friendly. However, it made Jefferey feel inexplicably panicky.

Somehow, he felt that this submissive daughter was completely different from before.

When she came out of the office, the next thing she did was send a text to Justin. ‘I have access to the accounts now. It’s true that Hudson Pharmaceuticals is in trouble because they lost their funding. How do you plan to proceed?’

A few minutes later, she received a reply. ‘We’ll speak about it when we meet. Let’s have dinner together tonight!

Rachel was somewhat taken aback by this.

The venue was a western restaurant. Before getting out of the car, she straightened her hair in front of the mirror. For unknown reasons, her heart was beating very fast.

This would be the first time she had dinner with Justin in a restaurant.